Originally Posted by J.OT13
The term "Food Desert" seems pretty common nowadays and often applies to our downtowns. How well served in your city or town's downtown area? What's the history? Is your central area mostly served by chain grocery stores, small independents, farmer's markets or Shoppers Drug Mart?
Why are grocery stores so common in suburban areas yet so hard to find downtown where most residents don't own a car? Ottawa is a decent case study. The suburban community of Orleans, with a population of 100,000, has about 10 full service grocery stores. That's not counting the two Farm Boys (full service minus toiletries and cleaning products) or the half dozen Shoppers. In the Central Area (bounded by the Ottawa River, Rideau River and Trillium Line), half the size of Orleans with the same population, we have about 5 much smaller full service grocery stores, two Farm Boys (one of which is tiny) and about a half dozen full service Shoppers.
L'Île de Hull, with about 10,000 residents on 3 square kilometers, and 30,000 office workers, has been a food desert for 20 years. Efforts have been made to attract a grocery store over the last 10 years with no luck so far. The Giant Tigre closed recently. One developer is just now close to a deal with a grocer for a new tower, though we've heard this before.
The Central Area is served by small independent grocery stores, often selling specialty items, but no toiletries, which can be found in fairly common pharmacies. Old Ottawa East has a 0 waste grocery store called Nu, but it's quite small. The ByWard Market has a good selection of fresh fruits and veggies and at least one butcher.
Note: Ottawa's central area has improved significantly over the last 10 years, with the two Farm Boys (Centretown and Rideau), a Whole Foods (Glebe) and at least 3 Shoppers (two Centretown and one on Rideau) built in that time frame. One full service grocery store on Rideau was demolished for redevelopment, but should reopen in the podium of the new towers. One, possibly two grocery stores, are planned in the Escarpment District, a long standing food desert.
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